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More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings - in or near forests, rural areas, or remote mountain sites. There, homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment but face the very real danger of wildfire.
Every year across our Nation, some homes survive - while many others do not - after a major wildfire. Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for the eventuality of fire, which is an inescapable force of nature in fire-prone wildland areas. Said in another way - if it's predictable, it's preventable!
Wildfires often begin unnoticed. These fires are usually triggered by lightning or accidents. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now - before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps listed below to protect your family, home, and property.
The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of a fire.
- To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
- Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.
- Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with fire-retardant chemicals evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.
- Regularly clean roof and gutters.
- Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard 211. (Contact your local fire department for exact specifications.)
- Use 1/8-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas, and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roof and attic.
- Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least once each year.
- Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it's kept.
- Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.
- Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
- Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.
- Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc. Move them outside of your defensible space.
- Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool, or hydrant.
- Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.
- Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the home and near other structures on the property. Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from the home.
- Consider obtaining a portable gasoline powered pump in case electrical power is cut off.
Your best resource for proper planning is www.firewise.org which has outstanding information used daily by residents, property owners, fire departments, community planners, builders, public policy officials, water authorities, architects and others to assure safety from fire - it really works.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Take your disaster supply kit, lock your home and choose a route away from the fire hazard. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of the fire and smoke. Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
If you see a wildfire and haven't received evacuation orders yet, call 9-1-1. Don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly and clearly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.
If you are not ordered to evacuate, and have time to prepare your home, FEMA recommends you take the following actions:
- Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area in case you need to evacuate.
- Wear protective clothing when outside – sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face.
- Gather fire tools such as a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket and shovel.
- Close outside attic, eaves and basement vents, windows, doors, pet doors, etc. Remove flammable drapes and curtains. Close all shutters, blinds or heavy non-combustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat.
- Close all doors inside the house to prevent draft. Open the damper on your fireplace, but close the fireplace screen.
- Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source.
- Connect garden hoses to outdoor water faucet and fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs or other large containers with water.
- Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Leave sprinklers on and dowsing these structures as long as possible. Be mindful of water use restrictions for areas affected by wildfires.
- If you have gas-powered pumps for water, make sure they are fueled and ready.
- Place a ladder against the house in clear view.
- Disconnect any automatic garage door openers so that doors can still be opened by hand if the power goes out. Close all garage doors.
- Place valuable papers, mementos and anything "you can't live without" inside the car in the garage, ready for quick departure. Any pets still with you should also be put in the car.
- Place valuables that will not be damaged by water in a pool or pond.
- Move flammable furniture into the center of the residence away from the windows and sliding-glass doors.
- Turn on outside lights and leave a light on in every room to make t
The following are guidelines for different circumstances in the period following a fire:
- Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home.
- If you are with burn victims, or are a burn victim yourself, call 9-1-1 or seek help immediately; cool and cover burns to reduce chance of further injury or infection.
- If you remained at home, check the roof immediately after the fire danger has passed. Put out any roof fires, sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden burning sparks.
- For several hours after the fire, maintain a "fire watch." Re-check for smoke and sparks throughout the house.
- If you have evacuated, do not enter your home until fire officials say it is safe.
- If a building inspector has placed a color-coded sign on the home, do not enter it until you get more information, advice and instructions about what the sign means and whether it is safe to enter your home.
- If you must leave your home because a building inspector says the building is unsafe, ask someone you trust to watch the property during your absence.
- Use caution when entering burned areas as hazards may still exist, including hot spots, which can flare up without warning.
- If you detect heat or smoke when entering a damaged building, evacuate immediately.
- If you have a safe or strong box, do not try to open it. It can hold intense heat for several hours. If the door is opened before the box has cooled, the contents could burst into flames.
- Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles and downed wires.
- Watch for ash pits and mark them for safety—warn family and neighbors to keep clear of the pits also.
- Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn your pets' paws or hooves.
- Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of fire ash and safe use of masks.
- Wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.
- Wear leather gloves and heavy soled shoes to protect hands and feet.
- Cleaning products, paint, batteries and damaged fuel containers need to be disposed of properly to avoid risk.
- Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
- Do NOT use water that you think may be contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or make baby formula.
- Remain calm. Pace yourself. You may find yourself in the position of taking charge of other people. Listen carefully to what people are telling you, and deal patiently with urgent situations first.


text:
This was posted on Facebook, by the Institut généalogique Drouin (but the screencap below is from ancestry.ca: Quebec, Vital and Church Records [Drouin Collection], 1621-1967). It is the burial record for a nine-year-old boy named Henry Gill, "décédé de la maladie des émigrés irlandais" ([who] died of the disease of Irish emigrants):
"La maladie des émigrés irlandais" (the malady, or disease, of Irish emigrants) was, of course, the dreaded typhus. For a brief account of the typhus epidemic of 1847, see History – 1847: A tragic year at Grosse Île (Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada).
The priest did not have the names of the boy's parents ("fils legitime d'un père et d'une mère d'ont nous n'avons pas avoir les noms"/"legitimate son of a father and a mother for whom we have not acquired the names"), but he noted that Henry Gill was the brother of Patrick and of Catherine Gill. A commenter at Facebook notes that Henry Gill and his siblings Patrick and Catherine were the children of John Gill and Mary Lynch, and links to a database of Les orphelins irlandais arrivés à Grosse-Île en 1847-48 (Irish orphans who arrived at Grosse Île in 1847-48), where the Gill children can be found at Reg. Nos. 176, 178, and 177.
Kind of amazing to see these records online, and to see people commenting, and cross-referencing, and cross-linking to other records and databases.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
OF - FAIR- some major parts replaced; minor replacement parts may be required; metal rusted, may be lightly pitted all over, vigorously cleaned; rounded edges of metal and wood; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal partly obliterated; wood scratched, bruised, cracked or repaired where broken; in fair working order or can be easily repaired and placed in working order.
Manufactured c. 1883-1907. Bottom of barrel stamped "32.40 B&M." Upper tang drilled and tapped.
There are currently no customer product questions on this lot


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Houston _ The University of Houston and three other institutions have received a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a superconducting magnet energy storage system device that could revolutionize the nation's electrical power grid.
The collaboration consists of UH, ABB Inc. of Cary, N.C, SuperPower Inc. of Schenectady, N.Y., and the DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y. Venkat Selvamanickam, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Applied Research Hub of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at University of Houston (TcSUH) will lead the UH effort.
The project is one of 43 being funded with $92 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which received more than 529 initial concept papers.
Developing an affordable, large-scale energy storage system would be a breakthrough for the U.S. electrical grid. Energy storage will be crucial in developing the widespread use of wind and solar power, two key renewable energy sources.
Superconducting Magnet Energy Storage systems use magnetic fields in superconducting coils to store energy with near-zero energy loss and a nearly infinite life cycle. ABB will lead the team in developing a SMES storage system for grid-scale energy storage.
Selvamanickam and his research group will work on developing a superior high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire that meets the performance and cost requirements of a commercial SMES device.
"A key enabler to the SMES project is the improved HTS wire technology that was recently developed by the TCSUH Applied Research Hub along with SuperPower to achieve a two-fold superior performance in high magnetic fields," Selvamanickam said. That wire, which was developed by UH, SuperPower and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was recently recognized by R&D Magazine as one of the "100 most technologically significant new products of 2010."
"In the ARPA-E funded program, UH will develop an enhanced metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process to achieve further increases in HTS wire performance, as well as process efficiency improvements to reach cost-performance metrics needed for a commercial SMES device," Selvamanickam said.
About the University of Houston:
The University of Houston is a comprehensive national research institution serving the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. UH serves 37,000 students in the nation's fourth-largest city in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.
About TcSUH:
The Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston is the largest multidisciplinary university superconductivity and advanced materials research effort in the United States, with over 240 faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students who work to discover new high temperature superconducting-, energy- and nano- materials, advance their applications in partnerships with industry, and disseminate knowledge through education, outreach, and technology transfer for the benefit of the public and the environment.


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What is DREAM
DREAM is a EU funded project, aimed at preserving, reconstructing, and exhibiting the devices and the music of the Studio di Fonologia Musicale della Rai di Milano.
During the 1950s and 1960s, this was one of the leading places in
Europe for the production of electroacustic music, together with Paris
and Cologne.
During the project, part of the equipment of the Studio (oscillators and
non-linear filters) has been virtually reconstructed and will become
part of the permanent exhibit at the Museum of Musical Instruments in
The aim of this one-day symposium is to present to the public the main results of the DREAM project, including the installation that recreates part of the original devices of the Studio di Fonologia di Milano della Rai, as well as the book "The Studio di Fonologia – A musical journey", edited by Maria Maddalena Novati and John Dack, and published by Ricordi.
The event is comprised of two parts.
The morning will be devoted to the workshop Conservare, mostrare, interagire: per un museo da toccare [Preserve, exhibit, interact: for a tangible museum]. During the workshop, DREAM researchers and invited speakers will discuss applications of novel interactive technologies to museum exhibits, with particular reference to music and musical instruments museums.
The afternoon session will present to the large public the results of the DREAM project, through the movie Avevamo 9 oscillatori [We used to have 9 oscillators], additional talks by DREAM researchers, and two musical performances that make use of sonic materials produced at the Studio di Fonologia.
[http://dream.dei.unipd.it/?page_id=645]Friday, June 15, 2012
Castello Sforzesco, Museo degli Strumenti Musicali, Sala della Balla Milano
Free of charge, limited places available


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I love casserole anything! this is my version of spicy baked casserole with veggies, cheese, eggs on a whole wheat bread.
Whole Wheat bread - 6 slices
Veggies: Spinach, peas, red pepper, green pepper.
Mozzarella Cheese - 3 tbsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Eggs- 3 large
Salt and pepper
Beat the eggs, milk, salt and pepper together, add the chopped veggies in it.
Pour half of the egg mixture in the greased baking pan, arrange the breads in layer.
Pour the rest of the mixture on top of it.
Add the cheese 'generously' on top of it :)
Cover the pan with foil, let it rest in refrigerator overnight.
Bake at 350F next morning for 20-25 mins.
Fantastic spicy breakfast is ready!


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Ceramic Pro Wiregrass | Elite Dealer
Professional Ceramic Coating, Window Tint and Paint Protection Film in Dothan, AL
Are you looking for the best car detailing services in the Wiregrass? Sunbelt Auto Pros offers quality services using only the best products. We are conveniently located in Dothan, AL and can provide premium services for your vehicle. Our car detailing Dothan, AL service will help you keep your vehicle clean and looking great. Since many years, we have been serving the wiregrass area. We are a Ceramic Pro installer and specialize in ceramic coatings for cars, Kavaca PVF, and window tinting. Our services will ensure that you receive the best.
Dothan ( DOH-thən) is a city in Dale, Henry, and Houston counties and the Houston county seat in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is Alabama's eighth-largest city, with a population of 71,072 at the 2020 census. It is near the state's southeastern corner, about 20 miles (32 km) west of Georgia and 16 miles (26 km) north of Florida. It is named after the biblical city where Joseph's brothers threw him into a cistern and sold him into slavery in Egypt.Dothan is the principal city of the Dothan, Alabama metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties; the small portion in Dale County is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. Together they form the Dothan-Ozark Combined Statistical Area.
Ardilla, Bama Dale, Brannon Stand Heights, Brookwood Subdivision, Griffin Heights, Kelly Springs, Shady Heights, Spring Valley Acres, Stonebridge Estates, Trawick Rd Estates, Wiregrass Hills, Woodsvale


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JESSICA DESVARIEUX, TRNN PRODUCER: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Jessica Desvarieux in Baltimore.
On December 16, the membership of the American Studies Association endorsed the boycott to end Israel violations of Palestinian rights.
ASA is the largest and oldest association devoted to interdisciplinary study of American culture and history. In the resolution, it says, quote:
"We believe that the ASA's endorsement of a boycott is warranted given U.S. military and other support for Israel; Israel's violation of international law and UN resolutions; the documented impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian scholars and students; the extent to which Israeli institutions of higher education are a party to state policies that violate human rights; and the support of such a resolution by many members of the ASA."
Now joining us to discuss all of this is Ali Abunimah. Ali is the cofounder of the online publication The Electronic Intifada and author of the forthcoming book The Battle for Justice in Palestine.
Thanks for joining us, Ali.
ALI ABUNIMAH, COFOUNDER, ELECTRONIC INTIFADA: Thank you.
DESVARIEUX: So, Ali, just right off the top, can you just break down what exactly is in this resolution?
ABUNIMAH: Yes. The members of the American Studies Association voted to endorse a Palestinian civil society call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, institutions that are complicit in Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and other human rights abuses.
So what this means on a symbolic level, of course, is that it's a statement of solidarity with Palestinians whose rights are being violated. In practice, it means that the ASA itself will not undertake joint projects and other institutional connections with Israeli universities and other academic institutions and will not accept funding from those institutions. And it advises its members, who, as you mentioned, are 5,000 scholars, among them very prominent American scholars, from doing the same.
What it does not do—and I think this is very important because of the amount of sort of misrepresentation that's being put about—this is not a boycott of individuals. It doesn't stop Israeli researchers from traveling to the United States, from participating in conferences, from conducting their research. And so it doesn't call for a boycott of individuals, except to the extent that any individuals, Israeli or otherwise, are specifically representing Israeli institutions that are complicit or the Israeli government. They do in fact lay all that out in quite a clear statement.
DESVARIEUX: Ali, I want to get to what the critics are saying. You have voices saying that this is not promoting the free exchange of ideas, which is what academia should be all about. What's your response?
ABUNIMAH: Well, that's something a number of scholars who have supported the boycott have responded to. And they said that, you know, I mean, there's nothing that requires people to collaborate with Israeli government institutions in order to promote the free exchange of ideas. People are free to exchange ideas as they see fit. They don't need to work with the Israeli government or with Israeli institutions that are complicit in human rights abuses in order to promote free ideas. The resolution simply doesn't do anything to prevent free exchange of ideas.
And, in fact, what's been so interesting is the amount of debate and discussion that this resolution has generated. As you know, the issues of Israel's abuses of Palestinian rights is really something of a taboo in the United States and in American media. But precisely as a result of this resolution, there have been dozens, if not hundreds, of stories in the media discussing this issue. So if anything, it has promoted debate, where before there was a great deal of silence.
DESVARIEUX: Ali, can you speak to specific examples of those Israeli institutions violating or denying Palestinians' basic human rights?
ABUNIMAH: Absolutely. There's really too many, but I can give you a few examples.
Every Israeli University works very closely with the Israeli military that is occupying and confiscating Palestinian land, both in terms of recruitment and training and other activities on campuses, but also, very importantly, in terms of weapons research and research that is used directly, its products are used directly to violate human rights and to violate Palestinian rights.
Tel Aviv University is built on the ruins of several Palestinian villages that were ethnically cleansed in 1948, and the university has refused even to acknowledge that, refused even to place a historical marker like the historical markers we have in the United States all over the place commemorating historical crimes on this continent. Hebrew University, part of Hebrew University in Jerusalem is built on land confiscated from Palestinians since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank. The IDC Herzliya institute actually directly participates in Israeli government propaganda, setting up so-called war rooms during Israeli attacks on Gaza and encouraging students to post pro-government comments on Facebook and other social media. So those are just a few examples of direct complicity with the Israeli military machine in the occupation.
It's also important to note that none of these Israeli institutions has taken a position against Israel's violations of Palestinian rights.
And I think it's very important, a very important point, and one I hear the American Studies Association making, is that universities are not ethics-free zones. You don't go onto campus and leave your ethics and morals behind. But that seems to be what some of the critics of this resolution are saying, that university professors and faculty and students should not ever consider the ethical consequences of the work they do. And, of course, universities themselves all have very strict ethics guidelines. And I think what supporters of the academic boycott are saying is that we should be applying those kinds of ethics to Israeli universities as well.
DESVARIEUX: Alright. Ali Abunimah, thank you so much for joining us.
ABUNIMAH: My pleasure. Thank you.
DESVARIEUX: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
Also See: Boycotts, Academic Freedom, History
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Each year, 1 in 6 Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. Many different disease-causing microbes, or pathogens, can contaminate foods, so there are many different foodborne infections.
Naturally occurring bacteria that you can't see, smell, or taste can contaminate food at any point in food's journey from farm to fork. Knowing how to handle food safely at home is a great way to reduce your risk of food poisoning.
About half of the 48 million victims of food poisoning each year are children under 15 years old. Most often a person experiences moderate to severe gastroenteritis for a few days, then feels better. They think "it was just something I ate." However, food poisoning can seriously affect the most vulnerable and result in chronic health effects many years after a bout of food poisoning. In short, food poisoning can be more dangerous to health than many people realize
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, be consistent in following the core four food safety practices:
For more information on foodborne illness in the United States visit the Center for Disease Control's Food Safety website.


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A super-fast 20mm cine-prime 4K lens for Super35mm and full frame digital cinema cameras.
Employing anomalous dispersion glass that's effective in reducing chromatic aberration, plus large-diameter aspherical lenses, this stunning 20mm cine-prime achieves high-resolution 4K imaging right across the frame.
Employing anomalous dispersion glass to reduce chromatic aberration, plus large aspherical elements, the lens achieves high-resolution imaging across the frame.
The lens offers widespread lens compatibility options for professional filmmakers using Super35mm full-frame, APS-C and APS-H cameras.
An aperture diaphragm with 11 leaves creates gentle, attractive blurring or 'bokeh' for cinematographic effects and created deeper, richer depth-of-field.
The lens offers a sturdy build that's user-friendly for demanding productions. It features focus and iris markings that are engraved on angled surfaces for improved readability.
The lens communicates to the camera data relating to ambient light, chromatic aberration, and other image information and can be used with movie industry accessories.
Super-fast 20mm 4K cine-prime lens
118.4mm long and weighs just 1.2kg
T1.5 maximum aperture
Excellent image quality
Superb build quality and durability
CN-E20mm T1.5 L F
Lens cap
End cap
User manual


text:
(CNN) – As a teenager, Roger Pontz's eyesight began to fail. Doctors told him there was nothing they could do to save his vision and over the years his sight deteriorated until, by the age of 40, he was completely blind.
Pontz had been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that damages the retina — a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that converts light to nerve signals and sends them to the brain.
But he always believed that one day he would see again.
A few years ago he heard about a device called the Argus II. Known as the "bionic eye," it gave a glimmer of hope that some of his sight might be restored.
"At that time it was all experimental," recalls Pontz, "so I just kept waiting and kept waiting and thought someday it would happen, because you have to believe in yourself."
The Argus II system consists of a pair of glasses with a small video camera mounted on it, which captures images. A prosthesis no larger than a pencil eraser is surgically implanted on the surface of the retina and information from the camera is transmitted wirelessly to electrodes on the artificial retina, where it is converted to electrical pulses.
Any remaining cells that haven't been damaged by the eye disease are stimulated by the pulses, leading to a perception of light patterns in the brain.
It's a long way from perfect vision — the users perceives simple flashes of light, no color or details — but it can be enough to get around.
The Argus II has been used in Europe since 2011 in countries including Italy and Germany, but Pontz lives in Michigan, and the device wasn't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until last year.
On January 22, 2014 Pontz became the second person in the United States to get the implant. The surgery itself lasted around four hours but the recovery took a few weeks. When doctors at the Kellogg Eye Center, at the University of Michigan, finally activated the chip, they warned Pontz that he might not see anything right away, but in fact the effects were immediate.
He remembers: "They turned it back on and I'm sitting there and I'm thinking: there was a light flashing on the screen wasn't there? And they said, 'yeah.'
"I looked up and I said 'there's a light up there,' and I turned around and the three lights in the room, I pointed right at them."
The surgery was a success. It appeared Pontz would regain some vision with the help of the glasses and the implant, but it wouldn't be easy. After years of not processing visual information, it wasn't just Pontz's eyes that had to learn how to see again.
"You have to go through the process, kind of like learning a new language," says Kari Branham, genetic counselor at Kellog Eye Center. "You have to retrain your brain to see and understand those images that it's seeing."
So every week, Pontz and his wife drive to Ann Arbor for rehab, three hours there, and three hours back.
"They start out in the beginning really just teaching them what they're seeing," says Branham. "So, how do they understand what they're seeing? What's the difference when they see the lights and when they don't see the lights? How to interpret what a shadow is, what's a light? Then learn about interpreting lines and things like that."
Although seeing pulses of light may not sound like much, for Pontz it's so much more than he had before the procedure.
"It's been pretty awesome," he says. "I can tell when my grandson runs around the house, I can tell when people step in front of me, I can tell when my wife had on a white top versus dark bottoms, vice versa. I could follow my mom around on Easter; she had a light top on. Every day it's something small but something different."
There have been four such surgeries performed at Kellogg this year — one of only two clinics in the United States currently doing the procedure, although 10 more are working to add the operation.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that surgery like this does come with "potential complications" and this procedure still isn't available to the "mass public." But it also notes that for "someone who has no vision this is an outstanding breakthrough," even if the vision is still only "rudimentary."
With the progress of patients like Pontz, there is growing hope for the "bionic eye," and for a second chance at sight.
"I told my wife for years, 'I don't know when, what, or how, but I will see again," says Pontz. "You got to believe in yourself — I always have. Someday, yes, I will see again. I didn't know how, where, when — but it's happening now."


text:
We hold ourselves to the highest standard
For more than 185 years, your safety and the safety of your world has been at the heart of what we do. That's why we have a team of more than 500 scientists and professionals and a rigorous safety process to analyze every ingredient—before we ever consider putting it in one of our products.
Our 4-step process
Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Before we market a new product, we go beyond regulatory compliance to ensure every ingredient's safety through a four-step, science-based process. We use the same process as regulatory agencies around the world, like US FDA, EPA, the EU, the WHO, and others.
Step 1
Before we use any ingredient, our scientists start by asking questions. If there's any doubt about its safety or benefit to you, we won't use it.
Step 2
We define the ingredient's safe range using the same science-based standards as major regulatory agencies around the world.
Step 3
We evaluate all ingredients in the product to ensure they are safe when used - both for you and the environment. If we can't confirm that, we go back to the drawing board.
Step 4
Our last step never ends. Once a product is on shelves, we keep up with new information on each ingredient, collaborating on new products safety methods with regulatory agencies and scientists outside of P&G to make sure we're up to date.
Most importantly, we listen to you—making sure the products we design meet your expectations for safety and performance.
Consumer product safety starts with the ingredients. We know you may have questions and concerns about specific ones. Here, you'll find more details about common questions we receive regarding product ingredients we choose—and many we actively avoid.
Consumer Products Safety Commission Certificates of Conformance
Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Certificates of Conformance are issued for all products under the jurisdiction of the CPSC. P&G issues Certificates of Conformance for Children's Products (those primarily designed or intended for children 12 years of age or younger) and for General Use Products which are intended for use by consumers of all ages.
For more information regarding CPSC regulations, consult the CPSC website.
To review Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and product ingredients visit the SmartLabel® website.


text:
Flame Tree Barbecue has long been a favorite counter-service location in the Animal Kingdom Theme Park for Disney World guests.
Flame Tree not only offers incredible value and an interesting atmosphere, it also has one of the best views in Disney World!
Found in Animal Kingdom Theme Park's Discovery Island section, right next to the entrance to Dinoland, you'll find a long, flat, open-design building that usually has several lines of Disney guests sticking out of it and snaking back to the main thoroughfare.
Jump into one of those lines and use the time to take in the interesting decor around you. Disney isn't known to drop details, and they even keep the theme through the counter-service lines.
Once you order your food, however, the real fun begins. Now you get to take your tray and start winding through the seating area to find a table. What's that? You can't find the seating area? Sure you can — it's that big jungle to your left!
The foliage is thick here, folks, and seating pavilions and beautiful design elements like ponds and sculptures jump out at you from behind every tree branch. But here's a tip — keep walking down toward the water. Once you get to the water's edge, you'll find seating with a killer view of Disney World's newest mountain — Expedition Everest. And if you happen to score these seats on a not-too-crowded day, it can be an incredible peaceful experience to simply sit, relax, take in the view, and have some good eats.
But — the thing I have to mention, which is also the thing that makes me kind of love the Flame Tree Barbecue — is that whole animals-eating-other-animals thing they've got going on. I did a whole Disney Food Blog post about it last year, because it's just that creepy-cool.
So whaddya get to eat in such an interesting fast food restaurant? Being a barbecue joint, the big-ticket items on the menu include chicken, a pulled pork sandwich, and a slab of St. Louis ribs. You can also get a smoked turkey breast sandwich and a barbecue chicken salad. Side orders include coleslaw, beans, french fries, and onion rings.
We were feeling rather pork-y (ha ha!) on our recent visit, so we sampled the ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. (Don't forget to visit the sauce islands in the middle of the pavilions to get extra ketchup and barbecue sauce!) We also got an order of fries to split, and I made the horrible decision to get a Key Lime Mousse dessert — more on that later.
The ribs were great, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not a rib-connoisseur, however, so you St. Louis folks will have to chime in here with your thoughts!
On the pulled pork sandwich, I wasn't expecting much. Pulled pork never seems to be flavorful (read: fatty) enough for me, so I figured it would be bland. But, in truth, it was quite good, and I'd get it again on my next visit. With the addition of some extra barbecue sauce — even better.
Now, the Key Lime Mousse…seriously, Disney, what is that green stuff on the top?! It looks like green hair gel, and I couldn't really figure out what it was supposed to taste like. It's decor-gone-wrong, I think, and ended up making me not enjoy a dish I think I would have had it been sans hair gel.
(Interestingly, the same thing happened to me with a bread pudding at Goofy's Kitchen the following week — why are we putting gelatinous toppings on things that are just fine without them?!)
The gorgeous view, excellent quick-service food, and that wacky "circle of life" theme make Flame Tree Barbecue tops in my book. There aren't too many counter-service eateries that I genuinely look forward to, but this is one of the few. Kudos to you Flame Tree! I'll be back!
Oh yes, I forgot to mention — they give each guest one of these "warning" cards! Don't feed the animals…


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If you ever needed a subtle reminder as to why picking up hitchhikers — or, indeed, hitchhiking yourself — isn't the best idea, meet Kai. Kai is a homeless hitchhiker who carries around a hatchet. Kai is also being hailed as a hero after saving a woman from the clutches of the man who was giving him a ride — who suddenly crashed his car into a utility worker, began spouting racist invective and claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus.
We should probably start at the beginning. Kai was hitching a ride with 54-year-old Jett Simmons McBride, of Tacoma, Wash., when McBride, for whatever reason, decided to run his car into a black Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) worker in West Fresno, Calif. The worker was pinned against his utility truck, when McBride hopped out of his vehicle and began physically pulling on the injured worker.
(MORE: The 5 Best Viral Videos of January)
Local woman Tanya Baker witnessed the crash and tried to stop McBride from continuing his assault or leaving the scene. That's when McBride reportedly grabbed her in a bear hug her while claiming to be Jesus Christ and uttering racist epithets. "The guy just went crazy and was trying to pull the guy from underneath the car and the truck, and then he gets in his car and tries to move the car… and we weren't going to let him do it," Baker told local Fox News affiliate KMPH.
"He just kept saying he's Jesus Christ and he's going to save all of us… but we have to get — he used the n-word, meaning the black people… and we need to get them off the earth."
Kai, who was sitting in the car, saw McBride assault Baker and sprang into action. "Like, a guy that big can snap a woman's neck like a pencil stick," he told KMPH. Kai grabbed his hatchet and battered the six-foot, 300-plus pound McBride with the blunt end, reportedly saving Baker's life. "I f—ing ran up behind him with a hatchet — smash, smash, smash!" When first responders arrived on the scene, the PG&E worker was rushed to the hospital with two broken legs. McBride was also removed from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries. He is now in police custody and booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder.
Kai is now an internet hero, not only for bravely beating back a bear-hugging racist Jesus, but for his completely no-holds-barred approach to media interviews.
Watch the video above and see if you don't want to give him a little media training and/or join his cult.
MORE: The Big Red Button Is Back: Belgian Viral Video Ad Takes over Dutch City
MORE: 'Kony 2012′ Documentary Becomes Most Viral Video in History


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I'm not going to be with my Mom this Mother's Day. We are very close and though a specific date on the calendar doesn't make it any more important for us to spend time together, I'd still love to see her this weekend. I have so much admiration and respect for my mom. As I've told you before, my parents immigrated to America before I was born and I watched them work very hard their whole lives.
My mom became a teacher when I started Kindergarten. I remember feeling resentful when she began working. I specifically recall feeling rejected and telling her she changed. It's so interesting how a young mind processes things. Now, as an adult, I respect how difficult it was for her to go to work every day, attend school at night, grade student papers/tests and then study for her own academic work. She taught AP French and ended up earning masters degrees in and teaching Spanish, Latin and ESL in addition to French. What a rock star!
My mom was still able to get dinner on the table every night. Based on her busy schedule, meals were not an event at our house. We ate lots of chicken cutlets, rice-a-roni and some frozen dinners in-between. We were happy. Looking back, it's a wonder she was able to pull it all off! About once a month, my mom plucked an old Italian cookbook off of the shelf and she, my sister and I would make a homemade pizza recipe inside. We made the dough and sauce, grated the cheese together and assembled and baked the pie on a sheet tray. It's one of my favorite memories.
Vitamix recently asked me to share a heritage recipe and host a giveaway for their S-Series blender on my site. Specifically, they asked me to talk about a recipe passed down through generations that moms could make with their children. The first thing that came to mind was pizza. Even though my mom, 2 of my sons and I now all have celiac disease, I knew I had to create some version of the same to share with you for Mother's Day.
In addition to a great recipe, you are also getting a chance to win a personal blender from one of my very favorite brands, Vitamix! When I was in culinary school, one of the chefs said he was asked to be the spokesperson for a different blender company, who shall remain nameless. When he refused, they asked why and he said "because I could put your machine in my Vitamix and it would pulverize it." Enough said. Vitamix machines are commercial quality. They have no equal on the market and whether you are blending lobster shells for seafood stock (which no other machine can do) or blending a healthy juice or soup (which no other machine will do so well), Vitamix blenders are the best.
Good luck! I hope you win one! Click on this link to enter through 5/12 at midnight: a Rafflecopter giveaway. {This giveaway is now closed}
Back to the pizza. I used the focaccia dough recipe here for the crust. Instead of baking it all the way through, I went about 15 minutes before adding the homemade sauce in the recipe below. I made half plain and topped the other half with spicy sausage. Feel free to use any crust you like, homemade, store bought, gluten-free or not. Just be sure to let your kids participate and at the very least, spread the sauce and cheese on top. Happy Mother's Day!
- 1 recipe gluten-free focaccia or other pizza dough (enough to fill a ½ sheet tray)
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 28 oz can San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 tsp sugar
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 8-10 large basil leaves, plus more for topping
- 1 sprig oregano
- 1 lb fresh mozzarella
- Any additional topping of choice (i.e. cooked sausage, pepperoni, vegetables)
- Heat butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and toss frequently, until softened and beginning to brown at edges, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Crush tomatoes with your hands into the pan an add juice from the can along with remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmering, until thickened and deep red in color, about 45 minutes. Cool and then add to Vitamix S-series or other blender. Process at high speed until smooth. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Heat oven to 375 and bake dough in a sheet pan until almost cooked through, about 15 minutes. Top with sauce, cheese, additional torn basil leaves and any other toppings and bake 10-15 minutes more, until dough is cooked through and cheese is melted. Set oven to broil and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Remove from oven, cool 5 minutes. slice and serve.
This post was sponsored by Vitamix. All opinions are my own.


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Dog park is located at First Street Beach. Dog friendly beaches at North Beach Access and between the South Breakwater pier and Stub pier.
Show All Answers
Call DPW 231-723-7132.
Leaf bags are picked up on Tuesdays, beginning late April/early May through late October. Brush is picked up on Fridays, beginning late April/early May through late October but must be called in to the DPW, 231-723-7132.
Spring or fall.
Bulk leaf piles will be picked up weekly, late fall. Watch for the announcement of the beginning of this yearly program on social media and in the local newspaper.
Please review alternate parking here.
Late spring/early summer.
Lions Pavilion only. Contact the City Clerk's office at 231-398-2803, visit City Hall, 70 Maple Street, or email the deputy clerk at firstname.lastname@example.com. The Lions Pavilion is available for rent half days (either 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; or 5:00 pm – 11:00pm) or full days. City residents/property owners may begin reserving the Lions Pavilion on January 2nd annually with a cost of $50/half day or $100/full day. Non-Residents may begin reserving the Lions Pavilion on April 1st annually with a cost of $75/half day or $150/full day.
They can be purchased at the launches, receipt must be brought to City Hall or Manistee Municipal Marina for sticker if an annual pass was purchased.
On bulky item is picked up on your first refuse pickup of the month, please see details here. If you have multiple bulky items or need to get rid of a bulky item at other times during the month, tags are available for purchase at City Hall.
The city recycling center is located behind Manistee Catholic High School, see details here.
Call or email the Marina, 231-723-1552 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Property owners are responsible for sidewalks; City has an assistance program.
Please refer to the city's Transportation Improvement Plan, which is included in the annual budget document here.
Tree Trimming/Removal Request form.


text: Thermo Scientific conventional restriction endonucleases are a large collection of high quality restriction enzymes, optimized to work in one of the buffers of the Five Buffer System. In addition, the universal Tango buffer is provided for convenience in double digestions. All of the enzymes exhibit 100% activity in the recommended buffer and reaction conditions. To ensure consistent performance, Thermo Scientific restriction enzyme reaction buffers contain premixed BSA, which enhances the stability of many enzymes and binds contaminants that may be present in DNA preparations.


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Rimeto lands $10M Series A to modernize the corporate directory
The notion of the corporate directory has been around for many years, but in a time of more frequent turnover and shifting responsibilities, the founders of Rimeto, a 3 year old San Francisco startup, wanted to update it to reflect those changes.
Today, the company announced a $10 million Series A investment from USVP, Bow Capital, Floodgate and Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates.
Co-founder Ted Zagat says that the founders observed shifting workplace demographics and changes in the way people work. They believed it required a better to way to locate people inside large organizations, which typically used homegrown methods or relied on Outlook or other corporate email systems.
"On one hand, we have people being asked to work much more collaboratively and cross-functionally. On the other, is an increasingly fragmented workplace. Employees really need help to be able to understand each other and work together effectively. That's a real challenge for them," Zagat explained.
Rimeto has developed a richer directory by sitting between various corporate systems like HR, CRM and other tools that contain additional details about the employee. It of course includes a name, title, email and phone like the basic corporate system, but it goes beyond that to find areas of expertise, projects the person is working on and other details that can help you find the right person when you're searching the directory.
Zagat says that by connecting to these various corporate systems and layering on a quality search tool with a variety of filters to narrow the search, it can help employees connect to others inside an organization more easily, something that is often difficult to do in large companies.
The tool can be accessed via web or mobile app, or incorporated into a company intranet. It could also be accessed from a tool like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
The three founders — Zagat, Neville Bowers and Maxwell Hayman — all previously worked at Facebook. Unlike a lot of early stage startups, the company has paying customers (although it won't share exactly how many) and reports that it's cash-flow positive. Up to this point, the three founders had boot-strapped the company, but they wanted to go out and raise some capital to begin to expand more rapidly.


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Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Corinthian Colleges Inc. and the U.S. Department of Education have reached an agreement that will allow the for-profit education company to receive an immediate $16 million in federal student aid funds and keep operating.
The announcement comes just days after Corinthian cautioned that it may have to shut down because of its clash with U.S. regulators over student data and at a time when Corinthian is looking to sell off some of its schools.
Corinthian — which owns the Everest College, Heald College and WyoTech schools — said last week that the Education Department had limited its access to federal funds after it failed to provide documents and other information. The Education Department said it heightened its oversight of the Santa Ana, California-based company after requesting data "multiple times" over the past five months.
The Department of Education said Monday that Corinthian must provide enrollment documentation to back up the funding request. An independent monitor approved by the agency will review matters related to ongoing operations at Corinthian and will have full access to the company's financial and operating records.
Corinthian said that the memorandum of understanding reached with the Education Department will allow its schools to maintain daily operations without interruption. It currently serves about 72,000 students.
Corinthian said an operating agreement with the Education Department will allow it to continue to pursue strategic options for its operations, including the sale and "teach-out" of schools. In a "teach-out," no new students are enrolled but current students are able to complete their programs or transfer to another school.
Corinthian said it will look for new owners for most of its campuses and hopes to have sales agreements in place within about six months.
The company plans to continue with the "teach-out" of schools that are underperforming or whose participation in Title IV student aid programs was ended by the Education Department.
U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell said in a statement that the agency will continue to monitor the sale or "teach-out" of the schools to make sure students can finish their education without interruption and that employees have minimal disruptions.
Corinthian said the memorandum of understanding with the Education Department is a "positive step," but it still needs additional liquidity to fund its operations. The company also disclosed that the Education Department is considering denying recertification or removing certification of institutional Title IV eligibility for certain Corinthian schools. Corinthian said many of its schools have provisional Title IV program participation agreements with the government, while other schools' agreements have expired or are about to expire.
Corinthian said the Education Department could decline to renew expiring participation agreements or end existing agreements if it identifies "significant institutional failures." Corinthian said depending on the school, that could have a material adverse effect on the company.
Details of the memorandum of understanding are expected to be finalized in an operating agreement by July 1.
Corinthian's stock rose 8 cents to 41 cents in afternoon trading. Its shares have fallen 76 percent in the last three months.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Short had a decent day turning the 10th fastest lap time in the afternoon qualifying. His teammate, Mike Alessi, was able to qualify 12th fastest. As a result both KTM riders were placed in the first heat.
In the heat both riders got a decent start near the top five. Alessi just edged out Short off the start and the two teammates battled throughout the 8 lap heat. Near the final lap Short was able to put a pass on Alessi and take over 4th position. Short would go on to finish 4th while Alessi finished 5th.
In the main event, Short got off to an okay start rounding the first turn in 8th. Alessi didn't have as good of a jump and came around the first corner around 15th. Short had a great first few laps moving from 8th place quickly up to 6th. When Trey Canard crashed early in the race, Short was able to capitalize on the crash and move into 5th place.
Once in 5th, Short remained consistent and maintained his position throughout the majority of the race. Meanwhile, Alessi had some problems as he was trying to come up through the pack. Midway into the race, Alessi suffered a crash that put him at the back of the pack. He would eventually finish the night in 18th.
On the final lap, Canard had caught back up to Short. The Red Bull/KTM rider tried as he could to hold off the hard-charging Canard as they completed the final lap. Unfortunately, Canard was able to make the pass with a few turns to go and grabbed the 5th spot while Short went on to finish 6th.
"Overall I was happy with my ride tonight. My first five laps were really good and I was able to move into the top five. I'm bummed Trey got around me at the end but I am still happy to be close to the top five. We are continuing to make great progress every week," commented Short after the race.
Next Race: Daytona Supercross – March 5, 2011
Overall Results
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Ryan Dungey
3. Chad Reed
4. James Stewart
5. Trey Canard
6. Andrew Short – KTM
7. Justin Brayton
8. Kevin Windham
9. Ivan Tedesco
10. Brett Metcalfe
11. Davi Millsaps
12. Nick Wey
13. Kyle Regal
14. Chris Blose
15. Tye Simmonds – KTM
16. Matt Boni
17. Fabien Izoird
18. Mike Alessi – KTM
19. Antonio Balbi
20. Kyle Partridge
Overall Point Standings –
1. Ryan Villopoto – 171
2. James Stewart – 161
3. Chad Reed – 150
4. Trey Canard – 146
5. Ryan Dungey – 145
6. Andrew Short – 110
7. Brett Metcalfe – 104
8. Justin Brayton – 90
9. David Millsaps – 88
10. Ivan Tedesco – 78
- February 26, 2011
- No Comments


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This article is more than 1 year old
Ofcom asks Arqiva to stick price on 600MHz spectrum
Six new HD Freeview channels up for grabs
Arqiva, holders of a virtual monopoly on UK broadcast infrastructure, has been asked to provide indicative pricing in case anyone fancies launching some TV channels at 600MHz.
In an updated statement (pdf, short and to the point) Ofcom postpones any auction until the end of 2012, but the regulator has asked Arqiva to work out what it would charge someone to broadcast TV in the space, so potential media companies can see what it would cost.
The band isn't very valuable for anything else, as there's no international harmonisation, and thus no economies of scale. So building an LTE network or similar would be expensive. It's 56MHz wide (starting at 550MHz) so it would fit six new HD TV channels that could be received using existing Freeview boxes, if anyone wanted to broadcast them.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) runs in a contracted band, compared to analogue TV which is steadily being switched off, so that leaves gaps at the top and bottom. The top (800MHz) will get auctioned off next year (schedule permitting), but the bottom part remains unloved and largely unwanted.
The band could be thrown open to unlicensed use, like the slots at 433 and 868MHz which already exist for short range devices such as remote car keys, or UWB kit could be pushed into there. But again the lack of international standards would make such applications expensive.
So Ofcom wants to auction it off, on the well-established premise that he who's prepared to pay most will make greatest use of it. But the regulator can't do that until the upper part of the Digital Dividend is mapped out (if not auctioned off) and the potential value of the 600MHz band is well understood.
The latter means working out how much it would cost to broadcast a national TV multiplex, and as Arqiva is the only company which could do such a thing it's the one being asked to put together the figures, which will then be shared with potential bidders so they can decide how much the bandwidth is worth, and what they might want to do with it. ®


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Julie Philipp
NYS Emmy-nominated journalist Julie Philipp has been News Director for WXXI's Center for Public Affairs since 2008, overseeing radio, television, and online news.
Prior to that, she served as WXXI Television News Director. She first came to WXXI in 1989 as a radio journalist, earning top honors in the New York State Broadcasters Association's General Excellence in Individual Reporting and Enterprise Reporting award categories. She also served as interim Capitol Bureau Correspondent for New York State Public Radio, reporting statewide from Albany. While taking some time to raise her family on a small farm near Rochester, Julie was a freelance writer for news and general interest publications.
She hosts WXXI's weekly television news magazine Need to Know Rochester. She also contributes to PBS and NPR news programs, and has produced and moderated many local and statewide Voice of the Voter political debates and forums.
About half of Kodak's 38,000 retirees still live in Rochester, N.Y., where the company is based. Many of them are anxious about their pensions and retiree health care coverage amid reports that the company is preparing for a Chapter 11 filing.


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Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.
Published in US: June 2011
1st in series
Source: Netgalley
My review:
I really enjoyed the love story and main idea behind Hereafter. I was drawn in with Amelia's battle with the aftermath of dying, her nightmares, and then waking up to a world around her. Josh is great, and I love the idea of a sweet and hot guy that is one of the few who can see her. Unfortunately another "person" that can see her isn't so sweet--in fact, he's evil. The additions of Grandma Ruth and Josh's sister are interesting. I would have liked to see a little more resolution with Ruth, because it seems like she goes from hating Amelia, as she should as a "ghost hunter/exorcist" to pretty much out of the picture.
I think that the main plot line was wrapped up fairly well, although I'd liked more of my questions answered. I know it's a first in a series, but to me, the ending felt rushed.
Though with the great story idea and the sweet romance, I still recommend this one!


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Ted Dragon, Dancer and Heir to the Creeks, Dead at 90
On Memorial Day weekend in 1992, perhaps the largest yard sale ever held in East Hampton took place at the Creeks, the 57-acre estate on Georgica Pond now owned by Ronald Perelman.
Ted Dragon, who had inherited the place upon the death of his companion of 42 years, Alfonso Ossorio, was selling most of its contents before moving out. Along with everyday dishes, unopened cans of paint, and worn-out farm tools, there was a human skeleton, lanterns from Venice's Grand Canal, Waterford crystal goblets and chandeliers, antique garden statuary, six-foot-long elephant tusks, silk Oriental rugs, a Chinese opium-bed, a dried shark, and much, much more. Mr. Dragon, who died on Sunday, assigned the proceeds of the sale to the East Hampton Historical Society.
That he should ever have found himself sole owner of a fabled property with a theater where Enrico Caruso, Isadora Duncan, and Anna Pavlova had performed was improbable in the extreme. He was born on April 24, 1921, in Northampton, Mass., to Raymond Louis Young and Carena Dragon Young, who was French-Catholic; her family name may originally have been Dragone. His father was a restaurateur, an occupation that did not appeal to his son, who studied the piano from an early age and aspired for a time to a career as a concert pianist. As a teenager, however, he took up the ballet, eventually moving to a cold-water flat in New York City to escape his disapproving family and make a career. He was wiry but strong. He could catch girls flying through the air, and male dancers were much in demand.
One of his earliest appearances was on Broadway, as a chorus boy in the 1941 production of "One Touch of Venus," choreographed by Agnes de Mille. But the ballet was his goal, which he achieved before long. He danced with the Paris Opera and the New York City Ballet until the fateful summer of 1948, when Mr. Ossorio, an artist, collector, and heir to a Philippine sugar fortune, spotted him at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts.
The next year they took a place on Macdougal Alley in Greenwich Village. Mr. Ossorio bought a Jackson Pollock painting that summer, the first of many. Pollock and his wife, Lee Krasner, who was to become close friends with Mr. Dragon, introduced the two men to East Hampton soon after. Three years later they moved into the Creeks, which from then on was their year-round home.
The Italianate mansion became a hive of artistic activity. Pollock and Krasner, Willem de Kooning, Barnett Newman, Robert Motherwell, and Mark Rothko, among others, all came to dinner. There were frequent piano concerts too, organized by Mr. Dragon and attended by as many as 400, whose admission fees went to benefit Guild Hall. "It was a magic time," he told The New York Times soon after Mr. Ossorio's death in 1990, recalling the house lighted by 1,000 candles and costumed opera singers wandering through its halls singing Mozart.
With a flair for design and a strong theatrical streak, Mr. Dragon was the one who arranged the furniture and artwork in the mansion and oversaw the table settings for the dinner parties, with inventive themes and elaborate flower arrangements. The Pollock biographer and art critic B.H. Friedman, who was often a dinner guest, once remarked that "Ted could take a weed and make it extraordinary."
He loved to cook, too, and did needlepoint well enough for an exhibit at Arlene Bujese's former gallery here. When the Seafood Shop in Wainscott first opened and business was slow, he brought in some paint, found some blue-and-white material in the basement, added white sheets and a few paintings, and changed the look of the place completely. Business picked right up.
But over four winters in the late '50s there came a strange interlude in Mr. Dragon's charmed life: He took to stealing valuable pieces of antique furniture from the shuttered homes of his summer-colony neighbors, Robert D.L. Gardiner's, on Main Street in East Hampton, among them. He hid the items in a large room or attic at the Creeks, where he worked on them for hours, refurbishing and restoring them to their original splendor. The house was so big — 40 or so rooms, some of which Mr. Ossorio never went near — that he had no fear of discovery.
Finally, in the winter of 1959, someone spotted him maneuvering a chair out of a second-story window and called the police. According to Gail Levin's recent biography of Ms. Krasner, his only explanation was that he "just loved beautiful things so much, and sometimes I was appalled at how badly the furniture was being kept."
Several prominent East Hampton citizens intervened to help Mr. Dragon avoid a prison term. After undergoing analysis with a psychiatrist specializing in the criminal mind, he spent two years at a private sanatorium in Connecticut, where he gave lessons to other patients in ballet and needlepoint.
A quarter-century later, a passing reference to the thefts in this newspaper called forth a flood of angry letters to the editor. Many protested that bygones had better been left bygones and praised Mr. Dragon as a man who, as Mr. Friedman wrote, had "since his illness been a conspicuously generous member of the community." The letters kept coming for more than a month, until Mr. Dragon himself wrote in to put an end to them, thanking The Star for opening "a big can of love" for him which he had not known existed.
Mr. Dragon's friendship with Lee Krasner blossomed after Pollock's death in 1956. He helped her shop for furniture and antiques and told her where to place them. Helen Harrison, the director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs, said he was "a font of information. He had wonderful recollections of Jackson and Lee that he shared with us for our archives. The big oval table in the dining room? He and Lee bought it at Nielsen's in Southampton. And each piece had a story attached." When Ms. Krasner died, she left Mr. Dragon an Empire-period back-to-back loveseat made from Texas longhorn, which he, a fan of horned furniture, had helped her pick out in Manhattan many years before.
By the time of Mr. Ossorio's death, all the valuable art at the Creeks had been sold. In the end, after spending millions to create an arboretum there that the American Conifer Society called "the eighth wonder of the horticultural world," Mr. Ossorio was hard pressed to maintain the estate, with a staff of about 30 and yearly upkeep running into the hundreds of thousands. Along with the house and land, he left Mr. Dragon $100,000 in cash and "any birds and dogs I may own."
Mr. Ossorio had hoped that the Creeks might be preserved as a center for a charitable institution, but it was not to be. Soon after Mr. Perelman bought it in 1993 for $12 million, Mr. Dragon moved to a house on Pantigo Road in East Hampton, where he remained for the rest of his life. In the mid-'90s he established the not-for-profit Ossorio Foundation, to "educate the public on the life and work of Alfonso Angel Ossorio y Yangco."
He spent his later years quietly. He went to Mass at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton every day, and donated generously to the church. He also helped his friends with cash gifts when they needed it, but he lived simply. His only known survivor is a sister-in-law in Northampton whom he apparently had not seen for many years and who did not want her name mentioned in reports of his death.
Mr. Dragon, who was born Edward Dragon Young but dropped his last name as a young man, died at home. He was cremated. The disposition of his ashes is not known.


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Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City review
I face endless hordes of undead mutations in the squad-based shooter, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, and report back a bit worse for wear.
On paper, the idea of a squad-based shooter drawing from Resident Evil canon with loose narrative ties to the earlier games in the series seems like a solid idea. Slant Six Games' Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City executes on the concept with varying degrees of success, but much of the experience is undermined by a number of basic game mechanics that, at best, just aren't particularly fun. On the contrary, annoyance and frustration were much more prevalent emotions throughout my experience.
Operation Raccoon City (ORC) tells the story of the Umbrella Security Service--that's you, and up to three other players or AI--which has been deployed to Raccoon City during the same time as the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3. The team has been assigned to eliminate any evidence (and witnesses) tying Umbrella to the T-Virus outbreak. The government sends in Spec Ops as well, meaning some of your opponents will have guns. Like I said, it's a solid premise for a shooter; one that sounds a bit like Left 4 Dead with some Resident Evil seasoning. If only it turned out that way.
Squad composition is a mixed bag. There are a number of different characters to choose from, each with their own starting weapons-kit and special abilities and more weapons can be purchased with XP earned by completing missions. The new weapons were nice, but I didn't find the abilities for some of the characters particularly useful. Take my Spectre's radar enhancement; not too hard to identify the horde of zombies rushing my way as the enemy. And weapons are plentiful enough in the field that my starting loadout never felt that important.
I'm sure that part of my reaction to ORC has to do with generally negative feelings about things like scripted boss fights, endlessly respawning enemies, and keycard collecting. The game utilizes all of these tired tropes at multiple points throughout the campaign, sometimes in tandem. The very first mission, in fact, ends with a corridor-based boss-fight of sorts in which the game told me when I should run and when I should attack. Subsequent boss-battles aren't quite as scripted, but are multi-stage affairs that are often taxing. AI companions won't revive you either, making a single-player approach even more difficult.
Speaking of running, I was able to sprint straight to the exit of a number of stages. It's not a tactic I was particularly proud of, but in some areas, the game's combat can be pretty punishing. An overwhelming and sometimes unending number of enemies and scarcity of ammo, coupled with a non-regenerating health system and a one first-aid spray allowance made fleeing a tactic, rather than a last-resort.
The actual gunplay against zombies, mutants, and Spec Ops troops is relatively mediocre. Grenades feel under-powered, and the assortment of machine guns feels overly-similar. It's also possible to get infected by zombies, at which point an anti-viral spray must be used or it's a zombiefied game over. The dynamic it adds to multiplayer is kind of interesting, but AI-controlled squad members seem reluctant to pick up and use sprays themselves.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City isn't exactly a presentational powerhouse, either. The game is incredibly dark overall, textures and lighting are flat, making its ragged visual issues even more pronounced. Outdoor environments looked a little better. There's not nearly enough variety to the look of enemies, either; particularly the undead. I killed the same zombies and mutants over and over, which further diminished what little atmosphere the game's environments provided.
In addition to the co-operative multiplayer offered by the relatively short campaign, four other multiplayer modes are included. Team Attack, Biohazard, and Heroes are basically deathmatch variations. I thought the most interesting mode was one called Survival, which is like a Horde mode with a chopper rescue. Competing for limited seating makes things pretty humorous at the end of each round. It's refreshing to have multiplayer modes that aren't locked behind an online pass these days, but--like the main campaign--ORC's multiplayer modes are average at best.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is disappointing for a number of reasons, ranging from its rather flat presentation to its reliance on some older gameplay conventions that just aren't very fun. Huge fans of Resident Evil lore might get a kick out of crossing paths with a few events and characters from previous games, but when judged as an overall gameplay experience, Valve's Left 4 Dead series' crown is still safe by a mile.
[This Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City review is based on a copy of the Xbox 360 version provided by the publisher.]
Jeff Mattas posted a new article, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City review.
I face endless hordes of undead mutations in the squad-based shooter, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, and report back a bit worse for wear. -
Game deserves better than your review...how can you even compare ORC to a game that was originally a mod for half-life? Not to say that this game is perfect, it has many issues but is a decent enjoyable game and a must have for ANY diehard Rez fan, but come on Left 4 Dead, that game was a POS!!! If you ask me, Resident Evil holds the zombie crown, and is safe for 100 miles in any direction.


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Want your bike to... Run cooler? Make More Power? Accelerate Faster? Burn Less Fuel? Here is the simple solution.
The ThunderMax is a completely new product that replaces the factory module, not an add-on box or signal modifier. The ThunderMax is purpose-built to deliver uncompromising performance but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to program it or make adjustments.
Installation is a straightforward replacement of the factory module and oxygen sensors. The ThunderMax SmartLink software contains hundreds of base maps that cover over 80% of popular factory and aftermarket combinations, dyno-developed by Zippers on real motorcycles. Choosing a map is a quick and easy process thanks to SmartLinks sorting filters; loading a map takes less than a minute. After that, you're ready to start the motorcycle. Once running, let the bike warm up at idle to operating temperature while the Smartlink software automatically dials in idle and warm-up settings for that particular engine and you're ready to ride! During your ride, every time you ride, the ThunderMax AutoTune module analyzes the air/fuel ratio read by the wide-band oxygen sensors at warp speed after every cylinder fire and makes any necessary adjustments to the injector pulse width to achieve the desired air/fuel ratio while compensating for variations in injectors, fuel pressure or exhaust flow. With every tank of fuel, at any temperature or elevation. That's it! All you have to do is ride.


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Dennis Rodman Won't Be Debriefed by State After Meeting Kim Jong Un
Dennis Rodman's Coke can in North Korea creates diplomatic fizz.
March 1, 2013— -- Basketball bad boy Dennis Rodman may be the only American to have hugged, drank and laughed with North Korea's bad boy Kim Jong Un, but the U.S. State Department said today it has no plans to debrief Rodman for any personal intel on the man who says he is targeting the U.S. with his nuclear arsenal.
Rodman left Pyongyang today after stunning the diplomatic world with his basketball diplomacy. After watching an exhibition game with a laughing Kim, dining and drinking with him, even hugging the regime strongman, Rodman had lavish praise for Kim and his father and grandfather who have turned North Korean into a family affair.
Rodman said that Kim's father and grandfather Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, "were great leaders," according to the Associated Press. "He's proud, his country likes him — not like him, love him, love him," Rodman said of Kim Jong Un. "Guess what, I love him. The guy's really awesome."
No other American as far as anyone can tell has met with Kim since he assumed command of North Korea following his father's death in 2011. Since then, Kim has defied the world by pressing ahead with a nuclear arms and missile program which Kim says is aimed at the U.S.
PHOTOS: Dennis Rodman Goes to North Korea
Despite his access to Kim, however, Rodman will not be debriefed by American diplomats.
"We haven't been in touch with this traveling party at any point along in the process. They haven't been in touch with us. And so we don't have any plans in that regard," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said.
But he said as with any American who travels to North Korea and wants to talk to State, "We'll take their call."
"Here's a man who has had dinner with one of the most threatening men in the whole world, who continues to sell weapons of mass destruction to all of our enemies. And they don't even want to talk to him? That's ridiculous," said Steve Ganyard, a former deputy assistant secretary of state and a consultant to ABC News.
"There is nobody at the CIA who can tell you more personally about Kim Jong Un than Dennis Rodman and that in itself is scary," Ganyard said.
Rodman's visit also put a can of Coca-Cola on the spot, an indication that North Korea is able to evade at least some U.S. trade sanctions.
Dennis Rodman Through The Years
In photos released by the VICE Media crew that organized his visit, Rodman is seen sitting next to Kim at an exhibition basketball game, and in front of him is a can of Coke. (Kim appears to prefer tea).
What drew attention to the red and white can is that North Korea is one of two countries in the world where Coca-Cola does not and cannot do business because of U.S. sanctions which have been in place since the Korean War.
The only other country where Coke is banned is Cuba. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, was on that list until last year. Yet when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Myanmar in 2011, an ABC News reporter traveling with the secretary noticed Coke on sale there, imported by third parties from Thailand.
That is most likely how Rodman's contraband can of Coke arrived in North Korea.
Coke spokesman Kent Landers told ABC News today, "Coca-Cola does not currently do business in North Korea. Any products sold in the market have been purchased by third parties not authorized by The Coca-Cola Company and imported into the country from other markets where they are sold."
Tourists who recently visited a new pizzeria in Pyongyang noticed the iconic American beverage was being served there. After videos of the cans turned up on YouTube, Coke was forced to put out a statement nearly identical to what it issued today.
When ABC News visited the Pyongyang pizzeria, clearly meant only for tourists and North Korean elite, during a visit to North Korea last year they were also served Coca Cola and report it tasted the same, though the cans were slightly taller and thinner than those found in the United States. An ABC News reporter was also able to procure a can of Coke elsewhere during a previous trip to North Korea.
An ABC News team that was in Cuba recently saw no sign of Coke, but the Cuban government produces its own version of cola.
ABC News' Susanna Kim contributed to this report


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Credit card orders from the Jack Wilkins Web Site will be processed by CCNow, our authorized, secure online retailer.
Jazz Guitar Workshop
Jazz Guitar Workshop on DVD format is now available. Recorded in Nashville from 1997. Features playing with guitarist Jack Pearson and bassist Charles Dunguay. Has discussion of the music played and a live audience.
"Until it's Time"
My new CD on Maxjazz (MXJ 606) is finally available. It features Jon Cowherd(p), Steve LaSpina(b), Mark Ferber (d), and Samuel Torres (P). Produced by Jeff Barone. If you'd like to order a copy,please email me and I'll send it asap or through the estore.
Jimmy Bruno & Jack Wilkins DVD
Live concert with Jack and Jimmy at the Thearte in Washington.
Just Jazz Guitar
Articles from "Just Jazz Guitar" magazine. Included are 4 solos not from the magazine.


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Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 31: Matthew, Mark and Luke, Part I, tr. by John King, [1847-50], at sacred-texts.com
23. And when Jesus came into the house of the ruler, and saw the musicians and the multitude making a noise, 24. He saith to them, Withdraw: for the young woman is not dead, but sleepeth: and they ridiculed him. 25. And when the multitude was put out, he entered and took hold of her hand, and the girl arose. 26. And this report spread into all that country.
35. While he is still speaking, there come from the ruler of the synagogue persons who say, Thy daughter is dead: why dost thou trouble the Master any farther? 36. And immediately on hearing the word which was said, he saith to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe. 37. And he did not permit any one to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38. And he came into the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw the tumult, and persons who wept and lamented much. 39. And he entered, and said to them, Why do you vex yourselves and lament? the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. 40. And they ridiculed him. But, having put them all out, he taketh the father and mother of the girl, and those who were with him, and entereth where the girl is lying. 41. And he took hold of the hand of the girl, and said to her, Talitha-cumi: which is, if one interpret it, Girl, I say to thee, Arise. 42. And immediately the girl arose, and walked: for she was twelve years of age. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43. And he charged them earnestly, that no man should know it: and commanded them to give her something to eat.
49. While he was still speaking, one came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead, do not trouble the Master. 50. But Jesus, having heard this, replied to the ruler, saying, Fear not, only believe, and she shall be cured. 51. And when he came into the house, he did not permit any one to enter, except Peter, and James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52. And all were weeping and bewailing her. But he said, Weep not: she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53. And they ridiculed him, knowing that she was dead. 54. And he having put them all out, took hold of her hand, and cried out, saying, Girl, arise. 55. And her spirit returned, and she immediately arose: and he commanded to give her something to eat. 56. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.
Mark 5:36. Fear not, only believe. The message about her death had induced despair: for he had asked nothing from Christ but relief to the diseased young woman. Christ therefore bids him take care lest, by fear or distrust, he shut out that grace, to which death will be no hindrance. By this expression, only believe, he means that he will not want power, provided Jairus will allow him; and, at the same time, exhorts him to enlarge his heart with confidence, because there is no room to fear that his faith will be more extensive than the boundless power of God. And truly this is the case with us all: for God would be much more liberal in his communications to us, if we were not so close; but our own scanty desires hinder him from pouring out his gifts upon us in greater abundance. 528 In general, we are taught by this passage, that we cannot go beyond bounds in believing: because our faith, however large, will never embrace the hundredth part of the divine goodness.
37. And did not permit any one to follow him. He forbade that they should be allowed to enter, either because they were unworthy to be his witnesses of the miracle, or because he did not choose that the miracle should be overpowered by a noisy crowd around him. It was better that the young woman, whose dead body they had beheld, should suddenly go out before the eyes of men, alive and full of rigor. Mark and Luke tell us that not more than three of the disciples were admitted, and both mention also the parents. Mark alone states that those who had accompanied Jairus when he came to supplicate Christ were admitted. Matthew, who is more concise, takes no notice of this circumstance.
Luke 8:52. And all were weeping. The Evangelists mention the lamentation, that the resurrection may be more fully believed. Matthew expressly states that musicians were present, which was not usually the case till the death had been ascertained, and while the preparations for the funeral were going forward. The flute, he tells us, was heard in plaintive airs. Now, though their intention was to bestow this sort of honor on their dead, and as it were to adorn their grave, we see how strongly inclined the world is not only to indulge but to promote its faults. It was their duty to employ every method for allaying grief; but as if they had not sinned enough in disorderly lamentation, they are eager to heighten it by fresh excitements. The Gentiles even thought that this was a way of soothing departed spirits; and hence we see how many corruptions were at that time spread throughout Judea. 529
Mark 5:39 The girl sleepeth. Sleep is everywhere in Scripture employed to denote death; and there is no doubt but this comparison, taken from temporal rest, points out a future resurrection. But here Christ expressly makes a distinction between sleep and death, so as to excite an expectation of life. His meaning is, "You will presently see her raised up whom you suppose to be dead." That he was ridiculed by thoughtless and ignorant people, who were wholly engrossed with profane lamentation, and who did not comprehend his design, ought not to awaken surprise. And yet this very circumstance was an additional confirmation of the miracle, that those persons entertained no doubt whatever as to her death.
41. And he took hold of her hand, and said to her Luke 8:54. And he took hold of her hand, and cried Though naturally this cry was of no avail for recalling the senses of the deceased young woman, yet Christ intended to give a magnificent display of the power of his voice, that he might more fully accustom men to listen to his doctrine. It is easy to learn from this the great efficacy of the voice of Christ, which reaches even to the dead, and exerts a quickening influence on death itself. Accordingly, Luke says that her spirit returned, or, in other words, that immediately on being called, it obeyed the command of Christ.
43. And he charged them Though Christ did not admit all indiscriminately to behold this resurrection, yet the miracle might not have remained long concealed. And it would indeed have been improper to suppress that power of God, by which the whole world ought to be prepared for life. Why then does he enjoin silence on the young woman's parents? Perhaps it was not so much about the fact itself, as about the manner of it, that he wished them to be silent, and that only for a time; for we see that there were other instances in which he sought out a proper occasion. Those who think that they were forbidden to speak for the purpose of whetting their desire, resort to a solution which is unnatural. I do acknowledge that Christ did not perform this miracle without the intention of making it known, but perhaps at a more fitting time, or after the dismission of a crowd among whom there was no prudence or moderation. He therefore intended to allow some delay, that they might in quietness and composure revolve the work of God.
"Mais la petitesse, et (par maniere de dire) la chicete de nostre foy, l'empesche de faire decouler plus abondamment ses biens sur nous;" — "But the smallness and (so to speak) the niggardliness of our faith, hinders him from making his benefits flow more abundantly on us."
"Dont nous pouvons recueillir comment le pays de Judee estoit lots reinply de beaucoup de corruptions, et diverses sortes d'abus;" — "whence we may infer how much the country of Judea was then filled with many corruptions, and various sorts of abuses."


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A study of extinction patterns of 25 large mammal species in India finds that improving existing protected areas, creating new areas, and interconnecting them will be necessary for many species to survive this century.
The study, by a team of researchers from the United States and India, appears in the March 10 online edition of the British peer-reviewed journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The team's analysis showed that forest cover and local human population densities are also key factors. Fostering greater human cultural tolerance for wildlife likewise will be critical.
The study examined extinction probabilities for a range of species. It looked at species considered endangered or critically endangered on the 2009 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, including tigers, lions and elephants. And it looked at species of least concern, including jackals, wolves and other species.
"India's fragmented network of relatively small protected areas has high carrying capacities for large mammals," said Krithi K. Karanth, who conducted the study as part of her doctoral thesis at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. "But given the overall patterns of extinction estimated in our study, we need to create new areas, and connect them better, if many of the mammals are to persist into the future."
Karanth currently is a postdoctoral scientist at Columbia University. She also is a research associate of the Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore, India.
To identify factors critical to the species' survival and estimate their extinction probabilities, she and her team collected 30,000 records, including hunting, taxidermy and museum records dating back to 1850. They divided India's geographical area into a grid with 1,326 individual local "cells" and entered the historical data into each cell. They then used occupancy estimation models, based on observations of more than 100 local wildlife experts, to infer the current occurrence of species in each cell.
Their analysis revealed that protected areas were associated with lower extinction probabilities for 18 species. Higher proportion of forest cover was associated with lower extinction of seven species. On the other hand, time elapsed since the last historical citing was associated with higher extinction probabilities of 14 species, and human population density in a cell was associated with higher extinction probabilities of 13 species.
One of the most important findings, Karanth noted, is that culturally tolerated species -- animals that humans perceive as nonthreatening or beneficial -- fared better overall.
Using both historical data and current occupancy estimation models allowed Karanth and her team to distinguish more clearly between when a species was truly absent or locally extinct in a cell, and when it likely still exists but hasn't been detected in recent surveys or field observations.
"Distinguishing between a species' absence and its simple non-detection is critical for accuracy," she said. "Failure to deal with non-detection results in underestimates of species occupancy and overestimates of local extinctions. This clouds our ability to determine the true impact of environmental and social factors on extinctions."
Karanth added that for conservation to succeed, policymakers and land managers must also take into account rapid changes in land use, climate, population growth and spread, and economic development now occurring in India and southern Asia.
Her co-authors on the study were Norman L. Christensen Jr., professor of ecology at Duke's Nicholas School; James D. Nichols and James E. Hines of the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; and K. Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society India Program and the Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore.
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Phoenix, AZ – Yasmani Grandal cracked a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the San Diego Padres to an 8-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set.
Chris Denorfia tallied four hits and three runs scored for the Padres, who earned their first three-game road sweep of the Diamondbacks in franchise history. They've won a season-high five straight overall.
Huston Street retired all three batters he saw in the ninth for his 13th save of the season, while Luke Gregerson (2-0) struck out the final two batters in the seventh to pick up the win.
Grandal, who hit homers in his first three career hits within the last week, has six RBI in just six career major league games.
Jason Kubel belted a three-run shot for Arizona, which has dropped five straight and seven of its last nine contests.
Justin Upton, who is 1-for-19 in his past five games, went 0-for-5 and heard some boos from the crowd.
"To be honest, I don't care about what the fans think of me. My teammates know I bust it every single day," Upton said.
After Willie Bloomquist's RBI single in the seventh tied the game at 4-4, the Padres mustered a pair of two-out runs to surge ahead in the eighth.
Logan Forsythe was hit by a pitch by David Hernandez (1-2) and Grandal followed -- pinch-hitting for John Baker -- and smacked a towering shot that just cleared the wall and glanced off of Upton's glove in right.
"He didn't quite catch it all...but he hit it just far enough," San Diego manager Bud Black said of Grandal's long ball.
The Padres added two insurance runs in the ninth. Denorfia, who led off with a double, scored on Bryan Shaw's throwing error following Alexi Amarista's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Yonder Alonso ripped an RBI double to right.
Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew laced an RBI double and scored on a groundout off the bat of Aaron Hill in Arizona's last at-bat to account for the final margin.
Chase Headley's RBI triple in the opening frame helped the Padres build a 1-0 lead, but Arizona responded with three runs in its half of the inning when Kubel pulverized a three-run shot to right.
The Padres regained the lead after plating a run in each of the third, fourth and seventh innings. Alonso slapped an RBI single in the third, Jason Marquis smacked a run-scoring double in the fourth and Amarista registered an RBI single in the seventh for a 4-3 Padres edge.
Game Notes
Hill extended his home hitting streak to 19 games...Prior to the game, the Padres placed pitcher Andrew Cashner on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right latissimus dorsi. Brad Brach was recalled to take Cashner's place on the roster...Arizona starter Ian Kennedy surrendered four runs on nine hits and a walk in seven innings, while Marquis allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames.